ST. PAUL - Charges have been laid against several individuals for assaulting local police officers following a handful of unrelated incidents that have occurred in the area.
In a lengthy police report sent to the media by St. Paul RCMP on Nov. 2, Sgt. Robert Burgess stated, “The following occurrences are a snapshot of the high-risk occurrences that St. Paul Detachment members face daily policing the communities we serve.”
Man blocking road
On Oct. 14, a man was arrested by police after trying to block a road in Saddle Lake. While the RCMP member was travelling to unrelated matters, a man tried to block a roadway in Saddle Lake Cree Nation.
The RCMP member exited the police vehicle to investigate.
“The male proceeded to threaten to assault the police officer and pulled a liquor bottle from his hoodie smashing it on the ground and attempting to fight the officer who had exited from his police vehicle,” according to information from RCMP.
The man allegedly refused to comply with commands "and was subsequently subdued with the use of a conductive energy weapon, commonly referred to as a taser,” according to police.
Neither the suspect nor officer received injuries as a result of the altercation.
Devon James Quinney, 24, of Saddle Lake faces three charges, including uttering threats, assault on a police officer, and stunting. He was released from custody on an appearance notice and is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 16.
Stolen vehicle
During the night of Oct. 17, St. Paul RCMP members located a vehicle that had been reported stolen from a residence in Myrnam earlier that night.
“RCMP attempted a traffic stop with the vehicle while it was located parked, upon approaching the vehicle it fled nearly running over the approaching RCMP officer,” according to St. Paul RCMP.
“The vehicle collided with a stop sign and fled the town of St. Paul at a high rate of speed, running a red light and driving dangerously while attempting to evade police,” report police.
The vehicle travelled out of town and drove through a fence on a rural property before police ended the pursuit for public safety reasons.
“The vehicle was located later that evening abandoned in the north end in the Town of St. Paul. The suspects were located a short distance from the vehicle and were arrested without further incident,” according to police.
Frank Jackson, 25, of Saddle Lake, has been charged with numerous offences including flight from police, assault with a weapon on a police officer, failing to comply with demand (alcohol) and four counts of mischief under $5000. He is scheduled to appear in St. Paul provincial Court on Nov. 9.
Officer sprayed with bear spray
Later in the month on Oct. 29, while out patrolling, a member of the RCMP noticed a vehicle that had fled from police the previous evening.
“A traffic stop was initiated, and several occupants fled from the vehicle and into a nearby residence. The officer confronted one of the occupants who had a bottle of vodka and a can of bear spray in their hands,” according to information from police.
Police say they asked the woman to put the bear spray down, but instead she allegedly pointed at the officer, “at which time he deployed his OC spray [pepper spray] at the female.” The woman was partially able to spray the police officer with the bear spray.
“Additional members arrived on scene and assisted in arresting the female. The investigation revealed that the female was also the driver of the vehicle the previous night in which it fled from members,” according to police.
Brittany Morin, 31, of Saddle Lake was released on a $1,000 promise to pay after a judicial interim release hearing.
“She is facing numerous charges including assault with a weapon on a police officer, flight from police, resist arrest, and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose,” according to RCMP. She is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 16.
